I'd like to thank God, my mom, pop, and everyone that helped me get this far.

I love you all.

Synder seems to have a lot of passion for the material so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Lets hope it doesn't suck harder than a billion dollar hooker. o_O

Personally I'm really looking forward to this, I mean I'm trepidatious as all Hell about it, but I do have high hopes from all that I've seen and heard so far. Seems to be in the right hands with Snyder, I just hope he absolutely nails it.

Personally I think he's without a doubt one of the greatest writers ever to work in the comic book medium, I also think he's a bit of an arrogant tool a lot of the time, and more often than not likes to be difficult just because he can be. Still, he does write good books most of the time, and as such I'll continue to read what he puts on paper, but I've learnt long ago its' best to tune out his various mad rantings most of the time, lest they begin to overshadow his creative contributions over the years.

I'm sure someone read that and is ready to purchase a script on spec.

Advice taken. Ever since I've heard about Watchmen, almost everyone says it's impossible to adapt so the fact that it's been adapted must mean it's not impossible?

What made Watchmen so difficult to adapt and is the story as complex as people make it out to be or is that fanboy hyperbole?

Alan Moore is in the exact same position Miller was in during the late 80s...Right after Robocop 2 and 3 were raped by the studios, Miller didn't want to put anything else of his on the small or big screen. Enter, Robert Rodriguez, who was so slavish to his devotion to Sin City (both as a visual experimental exercise and as a love letter to Frank Miller) that the project was adored by its creator Frank Miller.

Alan Moore needs to help out if he wants to see his art put to a big screen treatment, but it seems like Moore isn't interested in seeing his comics brought to film. But if he were interested in it, Zack Snyder seems to be REALLY interested in getting it right. He's even shooting extra footage for the Pirate Scenes.

Lastly, Rorshach's mask didn't change because of his emotions. It was a weird material of two clear layers with an ink substance suspended in oil. It constantly shifted, like a wearable oil slick, and that's why it changed. Though his facial expressions would change the surface, it wasn't necessarily changed by his emotional state.

Comic Book Nerd FO' LIFE.

Or should I say graphic novel? I really hope this is good - but I have serious doubts as to how well they'll pull this off. There are a lot of problems - not least of which is that fact that so many of the ideas in watchmen have been ripped off by the likes of The Incredibles (terrific movie) and Heroes.

I'm also afraid that whether or not this movie works it will not be a box office success. Why? Well, either they dumb it down, thereby losing the qualities that make it such a great story and making it pointless to see it (like League of Ex Gentlemen); or they make a brilliant, complex, intellectual interpretation - and how many people go to see movies like that?

Either way, the person who adapts Watchmen as a movie has a VERY difficult job. It's absolutely pointless to try to copy the comic exactly - as others have pointed out, the structure and presentation is specifically designed for that medium. I reckon a director needs to redesign the story completely for the medium of film - the same way Ridley Scott adapted Do Androids dream Electric Sheep as Blade Runner. Or the way Coppolla adapted The Godfather I and II.

It's clear Zack Snyder has the passion - and that's very important - but does he have the ability to do this? I've only seen 300 and was impressed at how well he had replicated the visual style of the comic. But I still found that the story worked a lot better as a comic. The movie stuck to the comic like glue - it could hardly have been more faithful - but I found myself getting a bit bored, once the visual novelty had worn off. It wasn't terrible, by any means, but it was a little bit average. I didn't feel I wanted to see it more than once.

So, I'm certain, the Watchman movie will LOOK great, but God knows if the story will actually work. The way I see it, they probably need to construct it like an old-fashioned detective story, like The Big Sleep or The Maltese Falcon - a bit like Ridley Scott's handling of Blade Runner. My feeling is that Snyder hasn't yet shown that he is a film-maker on that level - but I hope that this material inspires him to step up to the mark and demonstrate that he is the genius director this movie needs.

They will be walking a fine line. Part of me wants to read it, but if I read it and they screw up the movie, I'll be surely pissed off with the rest of you. I'll check it out on amazon right now, or my local library for that matter!

they are worlds apart and what worked(or didn't) for 300 won't work for Watchmen. and it looks like Snider knows this. i, for one, am hopefull.

And since 300 is a visually driven graphic novel, how can Snyder be at fault for bringing those same exact Visuals to the screen? That question is for the 300 haters by the way.

I’m hoping reading the book won’t lessen my appreciation, but then again, only time will tell.

Was it settled? Hello? Anyone out there in Movie Scoop Land?!?

Seriously, this pic is fine, but can't make much out of it regarding how the film will turn out.

There are two main versions of the script. The first was written in 2003 by David Hayter. Every review of this version has been VERY positive. It is a 70s-style political thriller that updates the story to the present day, keeping the spirit, characters and main events inact. This is the script Alan Moore read and claimed was as good a film script as it was possible to make from his story. Personally, I very much like the sound of this script. Here's a review (you may have to take out spaces):

http://chud.com/art icles/articles/2075/1/SCRIPT-R EVIEW-WATCHMEN/Page1.html

Bu t that is not the script that Snyder is using - at least, not exactly. Snyder has brought in another writer, Alex Tse, to rewrite Hayter's draft. He has kept Hayter's version pretty much intact but has added some extra scenes (mostly action scenes it seems). THIS is the script Snyder is going with. Here's a review:

http://latinoreview. com/scriptreview.php?id=27

A nd here's another review of the same script:

http://movieblog.ugo .com/index.php/movieblog/more/ bhc_exclusive_watchmen_script_ review/

However, bear in mind that since these reviews have been written, some changes have occurred that we know about:

Snyder has decided to return the story to its original 1980s setting.

The 'Black Freighter' pirate story has been put back in - and will be a possible addition to the DVD version. Of course, in the editing, it may very well turn up in the theatrical release.

On another note, I have to say that of all the directors who have been attached to this project, I would have preferred Paul Greengrass to Snyder. On the other hand, I'm pleased Gilliam's not doing it - I think he's now well past his best.

Well, the CGI could be neccessary simply to recreate 1980s New York - and for set extensions. All of which is understandable. There is also a 'flying vehicle sequence' in the story that would need some CGI. On the other hand if the CGI is being commissioned to create some 'Fantastic Four'-style action scenes, that would worry me mightily. It's not at all what the story's about.

It does worry me that your enjoyment of this film hinges on seeing a big blue cock though..

And there's no doubt that Watchmen the Movie will be visually interesting - wikipedia says that Snyder is using Taxi Driver and Se7en as visual references - definitely encouraging.

I guess my worry is that the movie will get bogged down in trying to replicate the EXACT same angles, framing, pacing and arrangement of scenes from the comic book. I want the movie to stand up on its own as a great movie - whether you've read the comic or not.

Guess I don't have much to complain about, though - as I said, I think that, barring stupid decisions/interventions from the studio, this movie stands a very good chance of being at least good. It'll almost certainly be the best Moore adaptation so far - though that's not saying a lot!

Can't agree with you about Return Of The King though! I hope that Watchmen is exactly as long as it needs to be - neither more nor less (but definitely not more!). I'm afraid I was very disappoionted with the last 40 minutes-or-so of ROTK. Up to then it had been a terrific action adventure - but for me it sank into endless shots of CGI orcs, sword-swinging and vomit-inducing sentimentality. I'm particularly referring to the multiple "endings". I really, really wished that they had chopped some scenes out. So, as you can imagine, I REALLY didn't appreciate the EXTENDED DVD edition!!

This is actually one of my pet hates about blockbuster movies lately: they are way too long! Fpr example, I thought King Kong was great - but would have been a fantasy masterpiece if they'd cut about 30 minutes out. As for the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies: they're like watching paint dry - what a waste of a brilliant character. I actually left the theatre during the second one - out of utter boredom.

i'm starting to feel my nipples glow!!!

But in any case, it would seem that Hayter's script IS the basis for the adaptation (with some additional scenes by Alex Tse). You're right about the ending - it has been changed in that it's no longer a (SPOILER!) giant, genetically -manufactured 'alien' that materialises in New York. But I can understand why they would change this; although it worked in the comic, I really can't see it working in a movie. That said, the alternative that was in the original script sounded like a bit of a Sci-fi cliché. Also - I think they've turned the showdown with (SPOILER!) Oxymandias into an action scene. Again, this is understandable, though I'm not particularly happy with it.

Sounds like quite the genius.

Too bad he's never had an interest in making films. He certainly can set up shots, as evinced in his little documentary.

On the other hand, I can attribute all of this to the source material: the story just works better as a comic. The comic takes about 30-40 minutes to read; less if you're a fast reader. The movie, on the other hand is two hours long - and I think the material just doesn't support a movie of that length. My point is: like yourself, I HOPE Snyder can actually leave the Watchman comic book far behind and put together a movie that in no way feels like a 'filmed comic book'.

teh ran, I have some good news for you: Snyder is NOT sticking to the comic book colour scheme (which was deliberately chosen to reference classic 4-colour superhero comics - though through a glass darkly, as it were). According to wikipedia, Snyder is using the movies Taxi Driver and Se7en as visual references: all good!

I'm a bit worried about the box office potential of this movie - even if the movie itself turns out to be very good. Firstly I'm concerned about how few people are posting here compared to say, an Indiana Jones talkback (cough!). And look how quickly this story has disappeared off the AICN front page. There's also the problem that Watchmen is a host who is late to his own party - various superhero movies/TV shows have already plundered a lot of Watchmen's ideas: Heroes, The Incredibles, Unbreakable, that I know of.

(SPOILER ALERT...But hey, the fucking comic has been out in perpetuity since the 80s so I don't really feel bad if you're going to read this anyway...The info has been out there for like fucking ever.)

When Rorschach goes to prison, it will be brightly lit and realistic looking it will be a perfect dichotomy from the look of the 'masked adventurer' world that Rorschach has lived in for so long, and look like a 'reality check'. Zach Snyder did all right by Dawn of the Dead. My wife (not the world's biggest fan of the zombie genre) rates it among the top three for her...which are these: Night of the Comet (Not REALLY a Zombie Flick...but close) Shaun of the Dead, and Planet Terror with Dawn of the Dead in last place...but it's because of the other runners in the contest.

I just want a Watchmen movie. It would be nice if the guy doing it would bring Dave Gibbons to the set and help with the look of the film or at the very least get his inpu--oh..yeah...he did that.

Film is different than sequential art. It's hard to do one with the other without being so stylized it becomes a risk (Sin City)....Yes, Robert Rodriguez proved it could be done, but I feel that this one needs a 'traditional' film treatment.